Gad

"Fortune; luck. (1.) Jacob's seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah's" "handmaid, and the brother of Asher (Gen. 30:11-13; 46:16, 18)." "In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, "A troop cometh:" "and she called," etc., should rather be rendered, "In fortune" "[R.V., `Fortunate']: and she called," etc., or "Fortune cometh," etc. "The tribe of Gad during the march through the wilderness had their place with Simeon and Reuben on the south side of the tabernacle (Num. 2:14). The tribes of Reuben and Gad continued all through their history to follow the pastoral pursuits of the patriarchs (Num. 32:1-5). "The portion allotted to the tribe of Gad was on the east of "Jordan, and comprehended the half of Gilead, a region of great" "beauty and fertility (Deut. 3:12), bounded on the east by the" "Arabian desert, on the west by the Jordan (Josh. 13:27), and on" the north by the river Jabbok. It thus included the whole of the "Jordan valley as far north as to the Sea of Galilee, where it" narrowed almost to a point. "This tribe was fierce and warlike; they were "strong men of "might, men of war for the battle, that could handle shield and" "buckler, their faces the faces of lions, and like roes upon the" "mountains for swiftness" (1 Chr. 12:8; 5:19-22). Barzillai (2" Sam. 17:27) and Elijah (1 Kings 17:1) were of this tribe. It was carried into captivity at the same time as the other tribes of "the northern kingdom by Tiglath-pileser (1 Chr. 5:26), and in" the time of Jeremiah (49:1) their cities were inhabited by the Ammonites. "(2.) A prophet who joined David in the "hold," and at whose advice he quitted it for the forest of Hareth (1 Chr. 29:29; 2 Chr. 29:25; 1 Sam. 22:5). Many years after we find mention made of him in connection with the punishment inflicted for numbering the people (2 Sam. 24:11-19; 1 Chr. 21:9-19). He wrote a book "called the "Acts of David" (1 Chr. 29:29), and assisted in the" "arrangements for the musical services of the "house of God" (2" "Chr. 29:25). He bore the title of "the king's seer" (2 Sam." "24:11, 13; 1 Chr. 21:9)."

The capital of the Roman province of Peraea. It stood on the summit of a mountain about 6 miles south-east of the Sea of Galilee. Mark (5:1) and Luke (8:26-39) describe the miracle of the healing of the demoniac (Matthew [8:28-34] says two "demoniacs) as having been wrought "in the country of the" "Gadarenes," thus describing the scene generally. The miracle" "could not have been wrought at Gadara itself, for between the" "lake and this town there is the deep, almost impassable ravine" of the Hieromax (Jarmuk). It is identified with the modern "village of Um-Keis, which is surrounded by very extensive ruins," all bearing testimony to the splendour of ancient Gadara. "The most interesting remains of Gadara are its tombs, which dot "the cliffs for a considerable distance round the city, chiefly" on the north-east declivity; but many beautifully sculptured sarcophagi are scattered over the surrounding heights. They are "excavated in the limestone rock, and consist of chambers of" "various dimensions, some more than 20 feet square, with recesses" in the sides for bodies...The present inhabitants of Um-Keis are "all troglodytes, `dwelling in tombs,' like the poor maniacs of" "old, and occasionally they are almost as dangerous to" "unprotected travellers."

"The inhabitants of Gadara, in Revised Version "Gerasenes" (Mark" "5:1; Luke 8:26, 37). In Matt. 8:28 they are called Gergesenes," "Revised Version "Gadarenes."

"Fortunate, the representative of the tribe of Manasseh among the" "twelve "spies" sent by Moses to spy the land (Num. 13:11)."

"Fortune (i.e., sent) of God, the representative of the tribe of" Zebulum among the twelve spies (Num. 13:10).

Definition of Gad:
"a band; a troop"